Life in Kosovo discusses the fourth anniversary of independence
Tonight, Life in Kosovo will discuss the achievements and challenges witnessed over the four years since Kosovo was declared to be an independent state.
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Every Thursday starting from 20:30, Radio Television Kosovo, RTK, broadcasts the TV debate show "Life in Kosovo", a joint production of BIRN and RTK.
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Life in Kosovo interviews Pierre Mirel and discusses the health sector
13 October 2011 Life in Kosovo broadcast an exclusive interview with Pierre Mirel, one of the leading authors of the European Commission’s Progress Report for the Western Balkan countries, as well as a debate on problems in the health sector.
In an interview with Jeta Xharra, Mr. Mirel spoke about the main findings of the Progress Report for Kosovo for 2011.
After the interview, BIRN broadcast a debate on problems with the country’s health sector, with questions including:
What medicines and services does Kosovo need? Why are there private pharmacies within public health institutions? What is happening with the law on health insurance?
To discuss these and related issues, journalist Muhamet Hajrullahu was joined in the studio by the following:
Ferid Agani, Minister of Health;
Aurora Bakalli, an Assembly deputy and a member of the Assembly Committee on Health;
Luan Jaha, from the health department and physician in the University
Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK); and
Blerim Syla, head of the Health Union and a physician at the UCCK.
At the beginning of the debate, Mr. Agani said that “the ministry is not empowered to hire the UCCK’s director or the chair of the health inspectorate. However, we have tried our best to ensure that the legal framework was respected during the appointment processes.”
Ms. Bakalli said that “we expected a lot from this ministry, and the results do not meet [these expectations]. Therefore, I do not agree at all with the minister. Also, the staff are not satisfied with changes that were initiated, but not completed, by the ministry.”
Moreover, Mr. Syla said that “the issue of increased salaries, which was mentioned by Mr. Agani earlier, should not be the main focus of this debate, since there are some other important issues that need the ministry’s attention. There are more than 26 complaints sent regarding the mismanagement of officials that work in the Ministry of Health, and this is an issue to be concerned about.
All the parties that have governed this ministry have failed to make the promised improvements in Kosovo’s health sector.”
Mr. Jaha said that “besides mismanagement, UCCK has many other problems, which should be analysed carefully. The health issue is a national problem; it must be addressed properly by all relevant officials, not just the minister [of health]. Without a concrete implementation of the law on health, especially on health insurance, this system cannot be functional.”
Regarding the law on health insurance, Mr. Agani said that “Kosovo’s model of health insurance will be composed of a combination of the Swiss health insurance model and the British system of health services.”
During the debate, BIRN also broadcast a report by journalist Alban Selimi, who explained the reasons behind delays in the appointment of healthcare managers. Another report, by journalist Edona Musa, looked into the private pharmacies that have been set up in the backyards of public health institutions, was also broadcast.
PROCES IMENOVANJA I REIMENOVANJA SUDIJA I TUŽILACA
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MONITORING SUDOVGODIŠNJI IZVEŠTAJ APRIL 2010 - FEBRUAR 2011
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THE PROCESS OF JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS OF JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS
The report on the process of judicial appointments and reappointments analysis the flow of this process, specifically focusing on the bright and dark sides that have marred the process to its final stages.
COURT MONITORING ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2010 - FEBRUARY 2011
Court monitoring report is published as a result of a continuous monitoring of all municipal and districts courts of Kosovo. The findings of this report are based on the monitoring of 2,147 court hearings, by BIRN monitors.
THE PROCESS OF JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS
This report presents the results of part of BIRN's court monitoring project, specifically on the process for the appointment and reappointment of judges and prosecutors.
Follow the Paper Trail
\"Follow the Paper Trail\", a guide to document-based journalism in Kosovo, explains relevant laws, access to public documents, how to publish safely, where to find databases on investigative journalism, and how to locate documents online through various search engines.
Courts Monitoring Report 2010
A detailed analytical report about the work and administration of the courts in Prishtina, Peja, Prizren, Gjilan, Mitrovica, Ferizaj, Gjakova, Decan, Vushtrri, Poduleva, Lipjan, Klina and Istog. The report contains important information, collected by the network of monitors, placed in the major municipalities of Kosovo and aims to identify the key problems and issues that the justice system in Kosovo is facing.
REPORT: Monitoring the Courts 2009
Monitoring the work and administration of courts in Prishtina, Peja, Mitrovica, Gjilan, Ferizaj, Vushtrri and Skenderaj.
DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR SYSTEM IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE
The report on Directly Elected mayor System in Local Governance aims to provide a critical overview of the rationale and feasibility of the implementation of a municipal governance system that places the mayor as the central executive figure, during the third year of its application. The efficiency of this system was assessed based on the following pillars: the relationship between local government bodies, accountability of the municipal executive, respect for the law, the link between the mayor and the citizens, provision of public services (water supply and waste management, capital investments (in school and road projects)), level of transparency, public consultation and citizen participation in decision-making.
BIRN Report on Monitoring the Education System
Report on monitoring the elementary and high schools in Prishtina: Mitrovica, Ferizaj, Peja and Gjilan
Analytical report of the situation and the problems in the University of Prishtina
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Balkan Investigative Reporting Network
The opinions expressed in Balkan Insight are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.
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